As fashion trends continue to evolve and we evolve with them, one thing that remains constant is the importance of accessorizing. Good accessories can take an outfit from 0 to 100 and transform the entire vibe of the wearer. As my fashion has continued to grow and develop, so has my accessorizing. In this blog, I would like to take you through some of my personal accessorizing tips, favourite places to shop, and things to look out for when buying the best accessories for yourself.
Part I: Jewelry
Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Jewelry. Jewelry is one of the best accessories to elevate any outfit but can be a difficult one to master. Going overboard can take away the focus from the other parts of your outfit and can end up looking tacky or gaudy.
The big debate: gold or silver?
While I have some opinions about this debate, I would like the reader to note that anything and everything about fashion opinions must be taken with a grain of salt and self-love. At the end of the day, you wear what makes you feel good and makes you feel fashionable. That being said, I have some pointers if you struggle to choose between gold and silver.
Gold jewelry had its moment this year on TikTok with people flocking to find Botega gold dupes and gold hoops. This made me very happy because gold has been considered tacky in the past and I have stood by it.
Timelessness and preservation: If you are talking about timelessness, gold is the better choice. Not only does it hold better value, in terms of fashionability, it is truly timeless and always looks elegant in my opinion. In some countries like India, gold is considered an investment. An important thing to note is that buying good quality goods is very crucial when selecting the best accessories. Do not fall for brands that sell “gold-plated” jewelry for exorbitant prices that tarnish quite easily (looking at you Mejuri 👀). You should be able to wear your gold jewelry in the shower without it tarnishing. Although, avoid doing this if you do not want to be getting a polish on it regularly. Gold will be long-lasting as compared to silver jewelry.
Here is a blog outlining how to pick good quality gold jewelry for yourself: https://www.jewelers.org/buying-jewelry/jewelry-buying-guides/jewelry-metals-buying-guide/gold-jewelry
Cool tone vs warm tone: Your underlying skin tone determines which type of jewelry will look best on you. If you are a warm-toned person meaning your underlying skin tone is yellow, peachy, or golden, gold jewelry might make your outfit pop. On the other hand, if you are a cool-toned person with pink or blue undertones, silver will complement you and make your outfit pop. Keep in mind, that you can change your tone even by dying your hair. I was a warm-toned girl until I dyed my hair maroon. This made me cool toned and incorporating more silver jewelry into my outfits has made my outfits look more complete and pretty.
Places to shop:
Here are my recommendations for some good stores in Toronto to find the best jewelry accessories.
- Made You Look Jewelry: https://shop.madeyoulook.ca/
- Fair Trade Jewellery Co.: https://ftjco.com/
Part II: Sunglasses
Sunglasses are seen as a seasonal accessory but I do not think they should be an exclusive summer thing. I have been browsing Pinterest and seeing some very cool winter outfits with sunglasses. A good pair of sunglasses really adds that little cool quotient to any simple outfit. For example, if you are wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt combo outfit, it’s just meh. But the minute you add in a pair of Prada sunglasses, it makes you that girl. We have not been seeing many sunny days here in Toronto this winter but here are some of the pairs on my wishlist for when I do see some sunny days again:
Prada sunglasses are super trendy right now. Gentle Monster is an extremely popular Korean sunglasses brand and their glasses are very suitable for Asian faces and features.
Celine TRIOMPHE 09 SUNGLASSES IN ACETATE CHOCOLATE
PART III: Belts
A good belt makes all the difference between tacky and stylish. In my teens, I wasn’t a big belt person and it was more of a necessity if my pants didn’t fit me. In my 20s however, belts are one of the best accessories for me. Belts are versatile and can be used with pants, dresses, and skirts.
Belts can add definition to the waist and give you a super snatched look. They also contribute to making an outfit look more playful and interesting by adding colour and texture. According to Vogue magazine, statement belts made a big comeback in 2023 and whether this will be the case for 2024, I do not know yet. Still, I can definitely see chunky belts and chain belts making a comeback as 90s fashion reappears on our shelves.
Here are some of my favourite belts along with inspiration on how I would style them:
Allora Leather Waist Belt in Chocolate – Myers
I love the colour of this belt and the corset design will give you that snatched look I mentioned earlier. This is a great belt to wear with dresses or loose-fitting shirts. It will really pop with a white outfit adding great colour and texture to your fit.
Allora Leather Waist Belt in Chocolate from Myers
Loewe Chain Belt
Ah, this belt is so stunning and stylish! It has that sleek, chic 90s vibe to it and would go great with bodycon dresses. I like the gold colour and I recommend pairing this with a white, green, or maroon dress for the most impact. If this is not on your wishlist already, I highly recommend adding it.
Boden Classic Leather Belt
This belt comes in several different colours but the dark red is my personal preference. This is a budget-friendly option to elevate your outfit. The dark red would look great with all your jeans – dark blue, black, or white. You can even pair it with dresses. The gold buckle is a nice touch as well. I love this belt!
Boden Classic Leather Belt – Dark Red
That’s it for this time! Hope you find some good inspiration for your outfits. Let me know which accessories you would like to see next.
Keep warm and cozy!
Looking out for more fashion content? Check out my other fashion guides!
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For my Christmas outfit ideas for any holiday party blog, follow this link:
Looking for the best winter fashion essentials? Follow this link:
